Whereas the political panorama in Virginia is in earthquake mode following revelations that Democratic Legal professional Basic candidate Jay Jones exchanged texts three years in the past that then-Republican state Home Speaker Todd Gilbert deserved “two bullets to the top,” Everytown for Gun Security is lockjawed about having contributed $200,000 to Jones’ marketing campaign in August.
Based on the Washington Free Beacon, the massive bucks contribution was made Aug. 26, when the billionaire-backed Everytown—the richest gun prohibition lobbying group within the nation—declared Jones to be amongst its “Gun Sense Candidates.” Whereas the announcement is nowhere to be discovered on the Everytown web site, the Virginia Public Entry Mission (VPAP) was sensible sufficient to save lots of the marketing campaign finance report and posts it right here.
The Nationwide Evaluation reported that Jones exchanged the “disturbing” textual content messages on Aug. 8, 2022 shortly after resigning from the Virginia legislature. The textual content alternate was reportedly with Republican Delegate Carrie Coyner.
The revelation has resulted in requires Jones to give up the marketing campaign. Jones has issued an announcement claiming to be “embarrassed, ashamed, and sorry” for his feedback, however he hasn’t give up, and Everytown has but to clarify its world-class hypocrisy.
Everytown’s contribution to Jones falls inside a higher context, with the announcement it’s spending $1 million on promoting to help Virginia Democrat gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger within the upcoming election. Spanberger beforehand served in Congress as a Virginia consultant. She is dealing with off towards Virginia Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, a army veteran and pro-Second Modification Republican who was the primary girl of shade elected to statewide workplace within the Previous Dominion 4 years in the past. She is hoping to succeed outgoing Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who can’t run for a second time period beneath Virginia legislation.
The group has a historical past of backing Democrats who help all method of gun controls. Again in April, Spanberger vowed that if she is elected governor, she would signal gun management laws, together with a ban on so-called “assault weapons.”
The Richmond Occasions-Dispatch reported, “Spanberger stepped down from Congress in January after three phrases representing the seventh Congressional District, together with Spotsylvania County, the place a capturing incident on Tuesday evening left three individuals useless, a number of extra injured and 4 youngsters charged within the shootings. She withheld remark till she learns extra about what occurred, however famous {that a} day earlier a gun had discharged within the backpack of an elementary faculty scholar in Spotsylvania.”
Fox Information obtained the complete textual content of Jones’ stunning message: “Three individuals, two bullets. Gilbert, Hitler and Pol Pot. Gilbert will get two bullets to the top.”
Again on June 26, Everytown endorsed Jones and Virginia State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, the latter for the workplace of lieutenant governor. In that announcement, Everytown described Jones as a “dedicated gun sense champion.”
Additional inflaming the controversy, the Virginia Scope is now reporting that Delegate Coyner has made a brand new allegation about Jones relating to a “heated dialog” she had with the Democrat again in 2020 about “eradicating certified immunity protections for legislation enforcement.” At the moment, Coyner alleged, Jones urged that if some cops died, police would shoot fewer individuals.
Jones has denied this allegation. In an announcement to the Virginia Scope, he reportedly stated, “I didn’t say this. I’ve by no means believed and don’t consider that any hurt ought to come to legislation enforcement, interval. Each single day, cops put their lives on the road to guard our communities, and I’m deeply grateful for his or her service and sacrifice. As Legal professional Basic, I’ll work hand-in-hand with legislation enforcement to help their work.”
Whereas the injury to Jones is unmistakable—Virginia Mercury columnist Bob Lewis described Jones’ remarks about Speaker Gilbert as “lurid”—Everytown has developed a severe case of lockjaw.
Nonetheless, the Free Beacon can be reporting that the Brady PAC, one other gun management group, issued an announcement: “Violent rhetoric has no place in our political course of,” however didn’t particularly point out Jones.
The Giffords PAC has additionally endorsed Jones, and that endorsement stays on the Giffords web site.
Everytown was created by billionaire former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has used his wealth to help anti-gun candidates and laws throughout the nation. He has financially supported anti-gun-rights initiatives in Washington state.
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About Dave Workman
Dave Workman is a senior editor at TheGunMag.com and Liberty Park Press, creator of a number of books on the Proper to Maintain & Bear Arms, and previously an NRA-certified firearms teacher.
